The Jewish holiday of Passover begins this week, and Easter is next Sunday. Normally, folks would gather around the world to celebrate one or both of these events. But this is not normal times, is it?
What is the significance of Passover, and of Easter? And why are they observed in close proximity to one another?
Year 1528, B.C.: The Passover Story
Passover is the older of the two celebrations. It was instituted in the time of Moses, to remind the Jewish people of how God freed them from slavery. The Israelites settled in Egypt because of a famine in their own land. After a while, the Egyptians, threatened by the Jewish people’s growth and prosperity, decided to make them into slaves. This slavery continued for many generations, until God sent Moses to talk to the Egyptian Pharaoh (king). 10 times Moses went to Pharaoh to seek his people’s freedom. Every time Pharaoh refused, God sent a plague (a disastrous event) on the land of Egypt, to try to change his mind. Despite the first nine plagues (things such as swarming locusts, tainted water, a frog infestation, darkness and boils), Pharaoh refused. It wasn’t until the 10th plague—the Angel of Death—that Pharaoh finally relented.
In the 10th plague, God sent the Angel of Death to kill the first-born child of every household in Egypt. But there was a caveat for the Israelites: if they followed the instructions that Moses gave them, their family would be spared. The instructions didn’t make sense, really. Kill a lamb. Paint the top and sides of your front door with the lamb’s blood. And don’t go out. Anywhere.
Sound familiar? (Ok, not the blood part.)
The children of Israel followed Moses’ instructions. And on the appointed night, the Angel of Death “passed over” every house where the blood was painted on the door, thus sparing the lives of all those inside. Since then, the Jewish people gather yearly and observe the Passover feast, remembering the amazing story of how God freed them long ago.
Year 30, A.D.: The Easter Story
OK, now fast forward several hundred years to the time of Jesus. It was during the time of the Jewish Passover celebration that Jesus was crucified, buried, and brought back to life. His sacrifice gave every person in the world the opportunity for forgiveness, restoration to relationship with Him, and eternal life. Since then, every year at Easter, Christians around the globe gather to celebrate this great gift.
That is why Easter always coincides with the Jewish Passover.
Year 2020, A.D.: Our Odd Reality
2000 years later we live in an odd reality. It is holy week. Passover begins Wednesday. Easter is next Sunday. But instead of gathering together to celebrate these great events, we find ourselves in a place eerily similar to the Israelites years ago on that first Passover night. Not gathering together but sequestered. Just like the Israelites. Hunkering down in our homes. Staying safe so that we and our families will avoid the plague called COVID-19.
But as believers, we also have the hope of Jesus: forgiveness, a place in God’s family, and a sure promise of life that will never end, even if we do succumb to this deadly virus. We will be with God in heaven. That’s what David meant when he said “Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory.” Psalm 73:23-24
Passover and Easter this year will be very different. And I think it will be a Passover and Easter we will never forget.
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